Prepare to get wrapped up in Hidden Empire Film Group’s newest psychological thriller: “Fatale” – a seductive L.A. noir film starring Hilary Swank (Valerie Quinlan); a detective who lures Michael Ealy (Derrick Tyler) into a dangerously tangled web.
With only days away from reaching the end of this whirlwind of a year, one thing remains true; our WFH looks need a total makeover.
Chicago-based MC Rarri True is on the verge of blowing up. His music is nothing less than top-notch trap acrobatics tuned to the hum of an italian-made engine, the big body bars of a titan no less. His approach and Weltanschauung is from the bottom to the top, a true definition of what the American dream looks like coming from a city like Chicago.
His track ‘Young Boss’ featuring fellow artist Pluto is all thoroughbred. They’re able to weirdly capture the feeling of an intense come-up but in a luxurious way, which is exactly what Rarri is talking about when he speaks of taking a jet instead of Lyft, a symbol of him going very far in his climb to stardom. The two rappers lay down solid bars over a trappy beat that is so luxury you might start thinking of investing in henny bottles. Beware. Take a listen below and watch out for more music via his insta.
The Knockturnal caught up backstage at Spring Studios as Marcel Ostertag prepared to present his 2019 Spring/Summer collection called MUSE for #NYFW.
MUSE represented Ostertag’s model’s sixth waltz down the catwalk during New York Fashion Week, with much fanfare surround his men’s line debut. The man of the hour revealed, “MUSE is a tactile and colorful journey influenced deeply by the close relationships with the muses” in his life. Most notably, the style aficionado claims to be “kissed by the muse” daily.
Beyond fashionable notoriety, Ostertag’s designs champion for diverse runways which are socially inclusive — proving his collections’ inspiration enriches beyond any visual aesthetic. The Knocktural went behind the seams of Ostertag’s dreamy yellows, blues, lavenders, and oranges hues. All of which blended perfectly into curation of great rainbow MUSE sweaters for #SS19. Alongside models, we unraveled the retro-inspired features of the designer’s high-waisted pants, 70’s silhouette wrap-dress, and sequined bell sleeve tops.
Withal, Ostertag’s collaborative Tamiris fringed footwear sealed this virally praised dedication — adding the pep in the steps of his MUSE collection’s jaw-dropping designs. Get to know Marcel Ostertag in his words.
You have a garment that is coming in 24 shades, explain its meaning.
Well, that is my favorite cashmere jumper for the summer season. It has a message. We are still fighting worldwide for tolerance. So, I placed the rainbow colors throughout this style on my jumper. It is important.
This your first season showcasing menswear. What did you do to prepare for this new venture?
I listened to all my friends and to all my clients who were asking for the menswear collection. It should be something new. You know? Shoes, suits, and jeans can be bought anywhere.
So, I launched a really special collection. It leans into the women’s line. It has this unisex effect going on. It feels young, modern, and fresh. You can adapt it into street style.
We connected before your runway show in February about you debuting footwear alongside Tamaris. How pivotal have these designs been for your business?
Yes, that was my fall collection’s footwear collaboration with Tamaris. We are selling really well. We’ve caught a forty country line, too. It means this collection is available all over the world. It can be ordered in my online shop.
Also, fashion cannot work without shoes. Shoes dictate a lot in fashion. That is the best way to explain this collaboration. You need a good shoe to make an outfit perfect. It makes it feel complete. That was how we merged the shoe collection into that runway collection.
It works well together. We have some monochrome looks going on. They echo the outfits. The shoes are yellow, too. Then we created some really crazy alburn boots with fringes. On the catwalk, they make for really great pictures. I think it is just the perfect company to work together with.
You founded your label in 2006, what has assisted you in remaining creatively passionate all these years?
Again, fashion is not only a passion. Fashion is my way of life. That is a big difference. I am not just fancy designing clothes. For me, it is a lifestyle.
I wake up in the morning — it is about fashion. I go to bed in the evening; it is still about fashion. I am transporting messages with my fashion. It fulfills me. I’ve always had the energy for it. Fashion gives me energy.
How will the Spring and Summer collection for 2019 be a defining moment in your career?
Wow! I think that about every collection I create. [Laughs] This season the MUSE concept flowed together really well. The menswear combines well with the women’s together. I think that makes this story complete.
You are bringing fifty-nine looks down the runway. Explain the overall theme.
The collection is called MUSE. It is about all my friends, muses, and clients who wear and own my stuff. Its’ name is a “thank you” to them.
Ideally, how would you like your legacy to read within the fashion world?
I think I show that fashion is not just a thing you can buy. Fashion is something you transport feelings with. Also, you see that in this new MUSE collection.
You emphasized working hand-in-hand with brands. Will there be more collaborations in the future?
For me, yes, I hope so. We are trying to do more of that. In Germany, we are currently working closely with a makeup collection. I hope to do more with Redken and NYX, too. Let’s see what is going on there.
I would love to create my own makeup line. We will see what happens with that. I hope that jewelry will be an option as well. I am looking for a collaboration. I genuinely love jewelry that is something I have not done. I have many ideas.
The voice of New York, Angie Martinez, and Netflix invited The Knockturnal for an intimate (advanced) screening of Dee Rees’ critically-acclaimed Mudbound. The press filled theatre both laughed and whimpered throughout the post-WWII Southern plotted film. All the while, awaiting the evening’s highlight, a Q&A moment with Queen of Hip-Hop/Soul turned small screen starlet, Mary J. Blige. Mudbound has swept awards across 2017 film festivals, including the Austin Film Festival’s Audience Award, the Gotham Awards’ Best Ensemble Performance Award, Mill Valley Film Festival’s Overall Favorite Award, and a Breakthrough Actress Award for Mary J. Blige.
The film’s illustration of inhumane prejudice, budding friendships, rural living hardships, and progressive farming entrepreneurial aspirations– offers a tough-to-swallow (yet enlightening) take on America’s ugly history. Angie Martinez sat with her longtime friend Mary J. Blige to discuss preparing for Mudbound, behind the scenes action, juggling filming and personal obstacles, as well as, her message to viewers. Check out the icons’ conversation at Manhattan’s beloved Neuehouse Madison Square on Thursday, 11/16.
Angie Martinez: I was watching it because I know you. I know the things that were going on in your life while shooting this [film]. What kind of headspace were you in, to get there, to be her?
Mary J. Blige: Well, I was already miserable. I was already suffering, and I was already [stuck with] all this heaviest. There was an unsurety, and not knowing what was going on. I did not know what was going to happen in my life. I knew that I was hurting really bad, though. Something had to give. I gave all my heaviness, [and the] insecurities [to my character]. You know?
I was mad insecure after so many years of being beaten down, mentally. So, I just gave everything to Florence. Then when Dee [Rees] said, “No wigs. No eyelashes.” You know, [not wearing] the nails, whatever, whatever. But, I was like, “Damn! Was she born with lashes? [Laughs.] Can I do a strip of lashes? Can I do a wavy wig instead of my texture of hair?”
You know, I’ve been fighting with that. That’s why I’ve been rocking wigs for years. You know I was scared to show my forehead off. You know the hair of my texture to me was wack.
Once I surrendered to Florence, I was rocking with you [, Angie]. My own edges are out now. [Laughs.] I surrendered to Florence, and her four dresses and her little shoes. I was running from trailer to trailer with my own afro out, just free. She really just gave me like a new sense of confidence.
And, Dee Rees, the director, who is amazing, she stood her ground and said, “No! This is going to make Florence beautiful. Because the women back then, they didn’t care about any of this. My grandmother was this woman, my aunts were [this woman]. So, I saw this woman [before].
She did not have a strip of makeup on. It was just [that] she knew who she was. So, Dee helped with the transformation. And, I just gave her [all I had]. Of course, Tasha Smith was my acting coach. She is amazing.
You know? I’d run over to Tasha’s house crying, and going through it. And Tasha would say, “Okay! Stop right there. I need you to give all this shit to Florence.” [She’d say] those exact words, “Just give all your shit to Florence.” And I did exactly that. I just let Florence live.
Angie Martinez: Isn’t that crazy? We all know you for doing that in your music. Whatever you’re going through, you put it in your music. Watching this [film] I feel like you put it in this role. You put everything that was going on in your life, into this role.
Mary J. Blige: Yeah, yeah! As an actress, I feel like I don’t want to do it any other way. We watched like Meryl Streep, Viola Davis, and Angela Bassett they make us feel something. I want people to feel something when they watch me act.
I want people to feel something when they watch me act. I don’t want people to think I just got a role because I am Mary J. Blige. I want people to be affected… like they are affected by my music. I want them to be affected by my acting. I want to work hard, and I want to always earn everything.
Angie Martinez: When you watch it back for the first time, what does that feel like? Do you recognize her? Is it like, “That’s me,” or does she look like someone else to you.
Mary J. Blige: Well, when I went to see it at Sundance [Film Festival] for the first time, I cried when I saw my character. ‘Cause, you know, I hadn’t seen the movie.
Angie Martinez: So you didn’t watch the trailers? You [had to] see trailers.
Mary J. Blige: It was just at Sundance [Film Festival]. It wasn’t anywhere… it was just at Sundance. You know we didn’t have a trailer or anything. And when I saw the character, I just cried because I wasn’t there.
It wasn’t me. It was like my grandmother. It was like my aunt. It was Florence. And I cried because it was like, “Damn! Where did she come from?” [Laughs.]
Angie Martinez: So, what has it been like now? The reception has been really good, right? And, Mary is on the cover of the Hollywood Reporter… which, I almost cried when I saw it.
Mary J. Blige: Thank you, I feel so good, Angie. You know how we talked earlier [about this]. You know, we work hard. No one gives us anything.
We don’t complain. We just go hard. It just feels good to know that I’ve earned everything and people are recognizing me as an actress.
Angie Martinez: That is a beautiful thing.
Mary J. Blige: I am just so grateful and humbled by the whole thing, seriously.
Angie Martinez: You’re going to do more, right? You’re going to do more acting after this. Are people knocking on your door now?
Mary J. Blige: Of course, [I’m going to do more acting]. People are knocking on my door. Yeah!
Angie Martinez: Light stuff? Are you going to keep doing heavy stuff? This [film] was tough to watch.
Mary J. Blige: Like, I said, yes. It probably won’t all be this tough. But, I’m not ready to be a comedian yet.
Angie Martinez: She can be funny a lot. I can tell you this firsthand. But you ain’t ready for that, Mary? No Girls Trip 2 [acting]? You ain’t ready for that, yet?
Mary J. Blige: I don’t have anything to draw from. Maybe later. Maybe. [Laughs.]
Angie Martinez: So, it comes out tonight. Is that exciting for you? By the way, [the audience] I was right about what I said earlier [tonight]. Midnight it comes out on Netflix. Right?
That’s tonight! I like being right, by the way. [Laughs.] The audience was trying to say, “It’s tomorrow!” It is tomorrow, technically. But at midnight it comes out. Is this exciting? Are you nervous?
Mary J. Blige: I’m excited. I am nervous. I am everything.
Angie Martinez: Yeah, because you are so vulnerable. What do you want people to get from not only your role but this project?
Mary J. Blige: I guess the fact that no matter what race or color we are, we are in this together. And, all the events that have taken place, with our leader, and just everything that has happened right now… we are in this together. We all belong. We are all supposed to be here. We should respect one another and treat each other like that.
This is not a game. We all need to learn, that it’s hard [for everyone]. We need to learn how to pray for our enemy. You know?
We are in this together, and it is hard. Like, I am really learning how to pray for my enemy right now. You know what I am talking about, Angie.
Angie Martinez: I do!
Mary J. Blige: But this is the only way it is going to go away. You know? So, if we keep talking about it, or throwing tomatoes at it, it is just going to keep existing. We are going to keep being mad.
Then [the things they did] are going to keep being ugly, ugly, ugly! So, let’s just fight together. That is what I hope people walk away with. We all belong.
Angie Martinez: You’re amazing. We are so proud of you. The movie is great. Congratulations! The film is on Netflix.
The Dublin based singer has been planning this radio moment all her life.
Zali has Ireland listeners streaming her songs hundreds of thousands of times, and across the globe, too. The songbird first became encouraged to pursue her passion as a youngster in her church choir. As year’s passed, she gained the confidence she needed through her adolescence, to create more than memorable solos, but instead… fan favorites. Today the local star is gearing up to spread her tuneful feminist anthems, and make you dance. Learn about ZALI‘s courageous climb in an exclusive one-on-one with The Knockurnal.
Your latest single “Girls Like Us,” describes wanting an uncommitted intimate relationship. What inspired this “don’t love, don’t trust” anthem?
“Girls Like Us” was a concept I had a while ago but could never really finish. Every time I would go back to it I would find that I couldn’t really connect to it. Well, not in a way that was real with my music. The sound [of my songs] has to be real or else what‘s the point? But that all changed when I got my heart broken. It was intense because it was my first true experience with romantic love.
For me, it doesn’t really reflect so much the desire for an uncommitted intimate relationship. It’s more of a disruption of patriarchy and how women are often confined to this role where you take what you’re given. Also, if we happen to veer from that standard we’re often looked at negatively. Even in the face of heartbreak, a lot of the time you find yourself being comforted with these words “You’ll find someone better, just be patient.” [Maybe you’re told,] “They didn’t deserve you”.
A breakup is always about [the other person]. So, coming from someone who typically did all the “right” things in finding love, it was sort of a wake-up call [to see] that it doesn’t matter who you are. It doesn’t matter how good you are, how bad you are, love and heartbreak do not discriminate.
I want this song to be an anthem to switch up the status quo. We can’t always be searching for love. And, for people who’ve been hurt by someone they loved, all those series of actions are bound to change how you feel and react to situations. I’ve felt the hurt. I’ve felt the pain, and instead of lashing out to try to hurt someone in a roundabout way to feel better, I’m just going put all that energy into being happy, however long the moments last.
And if I’m going to go through this… then I’m going to go through this on my terms. It was for me! This was a time (for once) to just do whatever I wanted. I did what made me feel good in that moment because sometimes it’s not always about pure happiness and contentment. I look at life sort of like divine chaos, and now more than ever… I grab every opportunity I can to indulge in things that make me smile, laugh, and bring me pleasure.
Those last lines of the chorus ‘‘Girls like us just want fun! All we want to do is just… “ leaves it up to the imagination but you can hear the hint of [the song] “Bad”. When I wrote this line I kept picturing that feeling of complete euphoria. I pictured the times you’re in the middle of a dancefloor with your eyes closed, just looking up, and feeling the lights on you. Those times where every beat vibrates through you are memorable. That feeling of freedom is what I wanted to communicate.
I’ve found that among girls who’ve heard the song, they immediately feel a connection of solidarity in a way because there’s always someone who’s once made you feel like you weren’t enough. [Men can] drain the life out of you. You might have known someone who’s been hurt in love. So, I find they’re either singing along because of their own emotions and experiences or they‘re singing along in support of every girl who’s been hurt that now is our time!
Your music is genre-bending. What is your favorite style to record?
To be honest, I grew up on soul music. I see myself as more of a soul singer. So, whether I’m recording a pop song or something leaning towards R&B, I try to sneak a little bit of that soul aspect into it. There’s just something so exhilarating in being able to capture emotion in that way. I’m working on a lot of new music and it reflects this side of me a bit more.
In a market oversaturated with bubblegum pop-like radio princesses, and here for the moment R&B acts — a rose is emerging from gritty Toronto pavement making herself visible.
About a young Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, as he battles through one of his career-defining cases.
About a young Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, as he battles through one of his career-defining cases.
Alan Cumming has already proved himself a master of the stage, page, and screen. He’s made us laugh and cry. When I got to interview him for his most recent film “Battle of the Sexes”, I shouldn’t have been surprised that it was my most memorable interview yet.